Wow, this thing is funky looking. Looks like it was made for a horse with a hump. It says that it is treeless, but it still looks WAY strange. I also question the quality, it looks like it is made from cheap cardboard leather.
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It sort of looks like it is made from a Supracor pad, then fleece added under it.
ReplyDeleteWith so many companies jumping on the Treeless bandwagon, I guess I shouldn't be surprised.
ReplyDeleteWould it look slightly less "humpy" without the gigantic hunk of skirt up front?
It's UGLY for sure!! Bring back the Debra Sibley treeless saddles for a unicorn chaser!
Just plain "wierd" looking!!
ReplyDeleteI've talked with the lady who had this designed and she has them made overseas in India if I remember correctly. Never could understand why she designed it with that terrible hump in the seat. The designer told me the hump helps you to stay position in the seat and to stop you from leaning forward. I say learn how to ride and you won't lean forward. As a side note, my husband said if he rode in that saddle his voice would permanently be an octave or two higher.
ReplyDeleteummmmmm yeah I think if I were to try and rid ein this, especially try and barrel race i'd come tumbling off the first time my horse showed a burst of speed. It looks to me like it would force you way to far back. Instead of sitting deep going around a barrel it's through your tush off going around a barrel.... definately uglier than sin
ReplyDeleteIt probably wouldn't look so weird if the size of the fender was scaled back a little bit. It'd still be ugly though.
ReplyDeleteIt would certainly keep anyone from leaning forward....OUCH!
ReplyDeleteit looks like a treeless corruption of a low-moose equitation saddle. you know, the kind that FORCE you into the right position so you don't have to actually, um, RIDE right? to me, an 'equitation saddle' is a contradiction in terms, because what's the point in competing in equitation if your saddle is what does all the work? defeats the original purpose, doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteWe were having such saddlefit issues with one horse that we were almost considering treeless. We ended up in a fair-sized equine convention and my husband and I decided that if we could find a treeless saddle there that didn't look like it was made of crap, we could talk to the vendors about it some more.
ReplyDeleteWe never talked to any treeless vendors. There were a fair number of them, and everything they had looked like it was either made of cardboard or, on the other extreme, garbage bags.
These treeless monstrocities seem to go with a lot of the synthetic things. Marketing to the newest, latest, bigger, better, faster folks, willing to throw their cash out the window.
ReplyDeleteJust because something has been around for years, doesn't always mean it should be ignored either. But both sides need to come to the realization that whatever suits the horse the best is what needs to be used.
All that being said, Damn that thing is FUGLY!
Hey now, lets not go on an anti treeless rant. I recently purchased a very nice Sensation Ride Hybrid treeless saddle and I absolutely LOVE it and so does my horse. Yes, there are many knock off Indian and Pakistani imports of crappy treeless saddles but there are also many big name manufacturers of quality treeless saddles.
ReplyDeleteThere are a variety of reasons I would not want to sit in that.
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ReplyDeleteOh well to each his own we all come here to gawk at ugly tack, don't we?...however it is never a good idea to generalize. Saying all treeless saddles are ugly is like saying all western saddles are tacky after viewing a few of the ones featured here. I've included a link to a picture of my horse modeling a Sensation G4 Formal Dressage Treeless Saddle...in my opinion this saddle is as beautiful as it is secure and comfy: http://pets.webshots.com/photo/2485425540080191555IfpKgc
ReplyDeleteWhen you use a treeless saddle it is highly recommended that you use a spine relief pad with foam inserts to help disperse the weight of the rider better. There are pads specifically designed for treeless saddles so weight distribution is a moot point. As with any saddle saddle fit can be an issue on any given horse, it is not one size/style fits all.
No offense, PRS but I don't find that to be an attactive saddle (your horse sure is cute though!). There are treed models that have that kind of flap, where the stuffing is contoured, but I really don't care for it, to look at or to ride in whether it's treeless or not. There are a few other design areas that just don't appeal to me, but overall it's clear that the saddle has quality craftsmanship. That it works for you and your horse is all that matters, not a stranger's opinion on the internet, but in general I agree with the others, I've never seen a treeless saddle that was visually appealing to me.
ReplyDeleteTreeless is a good option if you have a particularly hard to fit horse and can't afford a custom saddle.
ReplyDeleteOtherwise, I prefer a treed saddle. For one thing, you *can't* mount from the ground in a treeless, and even though I avoid that whenever possible, there are circumstances...
Treeless or not is a matter of preference in my opinion...There are quality and crap treeless saddles just like there are in the treed saddles you just have to educate yourself as to what constitutes quality craftsmanship.
ReplyDeleteNot to be argumentive but I CAN and HAVE mounted from the ground in this saddle and another saddle made by the same maufacturer although I too prefer to use a mounting block when one is available since I weigh around 170 pounds and don't like all that hanging from my horses withers.
Jennifer, I really don't know why everyone says they can't mount from the ground in a treeless saddle. It just is not true. I myself ride in a treeless saddle on two of my horses and a treed saddle on my other horse. My mother and my hubby also ride in treeless saddles. Anyway we can all get on and off our horses without our saddles slipping or sliding off. Also our horses are not small. My gelding is close to 16 hands and my moms horses is 16.1 hands tall. We barrel race and do extensive trail riding in our treeless, going 15 miles or more on most rides. Our horses do not get sore backs from the treeless and competely happy being rode in them. Also for reference we all ride in either bob marshall barrel/trail saddles or the im imitation hilason barrel/trail version. So at least with our horses and treeless saddle combinations we have no problem getting on from the ground. Just so you know it is a can situation not a *can't*
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